This groundbreaking new book is a detailed and beautifully photographed study of the extraordinary impact of trees on our lives and our surroundings in the past, present and future. In the starkest terms, without trees human life could not survive - they are vital in maintaining the balance of climate and the fragile ecosystems of our planet. Trees provide us with building materials, fuel, food, medicine, shade and protection from the elements. Trees are also the link between the earth and the sky, and for centuries have been revered in many cultures for their links with the past and their spiritual associations.